Birthday Choo Choo

Reid will be two years old on Thursday!

He loves "choo choos" almost as much as he loves airplanes!

We have some wooden Thomas the Tank Engine trains and track at our house,

   that belonged to my son, Thomas, who is now 23.

When Reid comes over he always goes straight for the choo choos.

So what is a Mumsie to do, but make her precious boy

a choo choo birthday Jon Jon!?

The pattern is Creations by Michie', pattern #137, the Jon Jon.

The plate is Little Memories, "In Training".

The plate has a teddy bear riding in the middle train car.

I just took out the bear and made a taller train car.

We thought it looked a little more grown up.

The fabric is a light blue chambray.

I thought I would be going out to find some buttons, but voila'!

I had some yellow buttons in my button box that matched pretty well!

Can't wait to see our birthday boy in his choo choo outfit!

Happy Sewing!

A Gift

I remember once when I was reading Jeannie B.'s blog,

http://www.oldfashionedbaby.blogspot.com/

Jeannie talked about pretending to open a gift you are about to give someone.

It made me laugh, because I do that too!

I'll bet lots of you do that too.

I thought it might be fun for you to pretend you are opening this gift!

I made this for a special little newborn named Pepper!

Isn't that an adorable happy little name?

I'm mailing this tomorrow.

Have fun opening it! :)

Won't Pepper be precious in her pink?

Happy Sewing!

Airport

Reid stayed with us yesterday for several hours.

When he came over, he was wearing his airplane Jon Jon.

Wayne decided we should take him to see some real airplanes

at a small private airport near us.

They have a second floor window you can look out,

but we couldn't take him any closer to the planes.

He loved seeing the planes land and take off,

and saying the colors of the planes.

Trying to get a closer look...

When we were on our way to the airport,

I told him we were going to see some real airplanes.

He kept looking down at this Jon Jon

and pointing to his airplanes and saying "plane"!

Of course, this made his Mumsie smile! :)

Happy Sewing!

Happy Easter!

Hopping in the bluebonnets...

So thankful for our sweet boy...

Wishing you all a blessed Easter!

Airplanes

Reid loves airplanes.

He has some seriously good hearing and eyesight.

He notices every single airplane in the sky long before we hear it or see it.

He looks up and points and doesn't take his eyes off the plane until it is out of sight.

Then he says, "Bye bye!" :)

Well, of course, Mumsie had to smock her sweet boy some airplanes!

I used my most frequently used pattern,

Creations by Michie', pattern #137, the Jon Jon.

The fabric is royal blue Imperial microcheck, lined with Imperial broadcloth.

The plate is Joe's Toy Planes,

designed by Laura Jenkins Thompson, for Terry Jane, Inc.

I asked Michie' if she had any plans to make the Jon Jon in toddler sizes,

and good news! She is working on it!

Reid was at our house today, and when he was leaving

 I laid the outfit in the seat next to his carseat.

He spotted it and smiled, and wanted to hold it.

I showed him the airplanes and he wouldn't let go of the outfit!!!

His mom said he snuggled it all the way home.

 Isn't that the sweetest thing? It just made me want to cry.

Probably only a smocker would understand that...

Or maybe only a smocking grandmother...:)

Happy Sewing!

Dainty Light Blue

Another project finished!

I just love light blue on baby girls.

This dress was made of Imperial batiste.

The pattern is Chery Williams bishop.

The sleeve...

I embroidered little bullion roses along them hemline.

The plate I used is called Lullaby, from Austrailian Smocking and Embroidery #76.

I just changed the flowers, but the waves are the same.

Don't you miss that magazine? I do!

We went for my daughter's 20 week (21 weeks and 2 days!) ultrasound

today, and we got to see the baby waving at us.

Aren't babies just such miracles? Every single one of them!

I wonder if the baby is a girl that will wear this dress?

If the baby is a boy, the dress will wait

for another grandchild or special friend.

I will be equally excited either way!

Happy Sewing!

Ducks in a Row

Ta Daa!

Reid's Easter outfit is done!

I used Creations by Michie', Pattern #114, the Smocked Romper.

The fabric is blue gingham, 1/16th inch checks.

The plate I used is Ellen McCarn's, Ducks in a Row.

Quack Quack!

I have this week off for spring break, so I'm busy finishing a couple of things.

My posts and finished projects seem to coincide with the school calendar! :/

Happy Sewing!

Baby Blankets

It seems like I'm going to lots of baby showers these days.

My daughters are 27 and 29, so lots of their friends are having babies,

and lots of my friends' children are having babies.

One of my favorite gifts to give is a baby blanket, like the one I'm going to show you.

Each blanket takes 2 yards of fabric. I use Imperial broadcloth.

If you are making your own piping, you may need extra fabric.

The Imperial broadcloth is 60 " wide so you will have some big scraps.

I am lazy about the piping, and I usually buy it.

My daughter's friend, Amanda, is having twins,

and I'm giving her these blankets tomorrow at her shower...

One for Clara Lane, and one for Colby Wayne!

First, I cut two 1 yard squares of fabric, and use a cup,

or whatever is handy, to round the corners.

Then I take one of the squares and add the piping.

I bought an embroidery machine a couple of years ago,

 and I honestly have not been happy with it. It gives me a hard time.

I've had it worked on and I'm still having trouble,

but I did get these blankets monogrammed

after fighting with my machine for a couple of days. Ugh!

Of course, you could take the fabric somewhere to have it monogrammed,

or leave the fabric plain.

I monogram the square that is not piped, then sew the two squares together,

right sides together. Turn and press.

Last, I topstitch about 1/4 inch from the edge, around the blanket.

And here they are!

They are perfect for our climate,

and nice and big  to lay a baby on!

Happy Sewing!